FAQ: Chuka Umunna

Speaking at a conference: Chuka Umunna courtesy of Anthony Mick.

Labour MP Chuka Umunna has a resume as long as his arm. From being selected as MP for Streatham, he was appointed Parliamentary Private Business Secretary to Ed Miliband in 2010, and is climbing the ranks of the greasy ladder at a fast pace. Chuka now leads the opposition Labour party in small business issues, support and access to finance, corporate governance, deregulation and economic growth as Shadow Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Shadow Minister.

His resume is so long and highly flung, some might say he’s the UK’s very own Barak Obama.

Who is Chucka Umunna?

Elected in 2010, Chuka Umunna is a Member of Parliament for Labour representing the constituency of Streatham. Streatham, Balham, Tulso Hill, parts of Clapham, and Brixton create his constituency. Umunna studied Law and French at three Universities; Manchester, Burundy and Nottingham, and worked as an employment law solicitor prior to being elected.

Why the connection to Obama?

With a split ethnic heritage, his father from Nigeria and mother of British origin, alongside his studies in law, it is easy to see a correlation emerging between the two political forces. However Umunna’s privileged roots are a far cry from the humble beginnings from which Obama rose. Umunna was privately educated in South London and is grandson to High Court Judge Sir Helenus Milmo, his feet it seems were well embedded in good standing.

What happened in the case relating him to Obama?

In January 2008 an office computer at Rochman Landau, the law firm at which Umunna worked prior to becoming MP, edited an article on his Wikipedia profile. The claim stated he “may end up as the UK’s Barack Obama”. The exact person behind the claim has not yet been revealed. Speculation has grown over wether or not it was Umunna himself after he neither admited nor denied it. “I don’t have any recollection of that log-in or any of the changes. But I can’t say for certain that someone with my campaign did not set up that log-in.”

However some, such as Hillary Clinton say Umunna has become a victim of a vast, Right-wing conspiracy”…unseen forces, foreseeing even before he became the MP,.. hacked his computer to sow the seeds for the career-threatening humiliation we see in luscious bloom today.

How is this impacting on his reputation.

Whilst this is a hugely embarrassing incident which will undoubtedly haunt him in his political career and until the truth comes out, it doesn’t appear that it will affect his role within the Labour Party as things stand. However if it comes to light that it was indeed a rouse by him to gain esteem and raise his profile, it has the potential to impact his supporters, and knock voter’s confidence in himself and the Labour party reducing voting numbers.

A man of the people?

With a record as squeaky clean as Mr Umunna, its not surprising he’s destined for great things, including being tipped as a future Prime Minister. Therefore with this story causing the embarrassment it has and as another story featuring comments he made about West End night clubs broaching the surface Labour have argued it smells like Conservative tactics. Regardless of whether he did or did not claim to be the UK’s next Obama, it would seem Umunna should continue to focus on the politics of the UK and not the leaders of the USA.